Cross country competition ends in Sunyani

STORY: FROM MICHAEL SARPONG MFUM, SUNYANI

The 27th edition of the national cross country competition organised by the National Sports Council (NSC) and the Ministry of Youth and Sports has ended in Sunyani, the Brong Ahafo regional capital.

Participants were drawn from the security agencies including, the Custom Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS), Ghana Fire Service, Ghana Police Service, Ghana Immigration Service and the Ghana Armed Forces.

The rest were representatives from the ten (10) regions, Ghana University Sports Union (GUSA) and Ghana Polytechnic Sports Association (GHAPSA).

The men run a distance of 12 kilometres. Daniel Zigah from the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) took the first position in a time of 39: 41 seconds, followed by Corporal Daniel Lamburum from the Ghana Armed Forces with Williams Akoka from the Ashanti Region winning the third position.

In the women’s competition which covered 8 kilometres, 17-year-old Elizabeth Bortsor of the Besease Senior High School, representing the Central Region won the race with a time of 32: 21 seconds; Rita Luonab and Vivian Febiri both from the Ashanti region took the second and the third positions respectively.

In the overall competition, the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) was first in the men’s competition followed by the Ashanti regional police service.

The first position in the women’s competition also went to the Central region. Ashanti region took the second position while the host region, Brong Ahafo came third.

The Brong Ahafo regional Minister, Hon. Kwadwo Nyamekye-Marfo, addressing the athletes admonished them to guard against smoking, drinking, laziness and other social vices that would hinder their progress.

The Chairman of the Ghana Athletics Association (GAA), Professor Francis Duodu, for his part lauded the various teams for exhibiting great sportsmanship in the competition.

Prof. Duodu disclosed that his outfit has plans of reviving athletes in the country by making use of talents through the organization of such competitions.

“Women athletics would also be looked at. Athletes coaches in the country would also be taken care by training them abroad and organizing seminars for them as well,” he added.